Germany basketball star Leonie Fiebich wants to soak in the experience at Paris 2024
Germany have never been to an Olympic Games in women’s basketball. This fact wasn’t missed by German players like Leonie Fiebich as they prepared for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belem, Brazil.
But they just kept their focus on their games, and when they beat Brazil 73-71 in February, it was real. Germany were going to go Paris 2024.
“Honestly, it's still surreal just thinking about that. We're going to Paris to the first ever Olympics for German women's basketball. It's crazy,” Fiebich said to Olympics.com. “ And I don't think I realised in the moment, because we were so focused on that game. I think I will realise it in the Opening Ceremony, when I'm there.”
At the OQT, Fiebich joined with fellow WNBA players Nyara and Satou Sabally to help Germany go 2-1. Fiebich stands at 1.93m (6-foot-4), and the German team has plenty of size across the roster. She said this is what can make the difference for her team.
“I think we're super tall. From position two to five, we're like over 190 or, you know, six, four, six, five. We’re super versatile. We can switch a lot. Everybody can play multiple positions. I think that's really something unique for us,” Fiebich said.
Leonie Fiebich’s Olympic dreams
They will need every bit of height they can get in France. Germany were drawn into Group C, which means they will face the United States, winners of the last seven Olympic gold medals; Belgium, the most recent EuroBasket champions; and Japan, the silver medallists at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
In the WNBA, Fiebich plays for the New York Liberty. If she is named to the German team, she will face teammates Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu in group play.
“Playing against team USA is something really cool for us. Obviously we want to do as best as we can, but, mostly the focus is having fun, for sure,” she said.
Fiebich played for Casademona Zaragoza in the last European League before joining the WNBA. With so much basketball and few breaks, she said staying focused is key.
“I think at this point, it's just really important to stay mentally ready. Because the physical stuff you can't really influence, right? You don't have really a lot of control over that because it is a lot. But staying mentally ready will be really important.”
Fiebich’s hopes for Paris 2024 involve enjoying every bit of the Olympic experience. She doesn’t want to miss any of it.
“I'm soaking in everything. You know, the Olympic Village, the Opening Ceremony, playing at the biggest stage in the world. That's really something cool,” Fiebich said.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
• Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.